Remembering Tip Top leader and friend Chet Austin

Widely liked and respected Cobb businessman and community leader Chet Austin, who for decades helped run and develop Marietta’s Tip Top Poultry, the Wellstar Health System and Kennesaw State University, will be sorely missed and fondly remembered for his generosity, love and selfless commitment to bettering the lives of others, those close to him say.

Chester “Chet” Adair Austin, 92, died peacefully Tuesday morning, according to a family obituary, which states he deeply valued family time, especially trips to Destin, Florida, and many other family vacations over the years.

“To all those who knew him, Chet leaves behind a legacy of leadership, loyalty and service,” the obituary states. “Beyond his service to this nation, our community, the local health care system, and university and educational centers across Georgia, Chet was also a generous friend and family man.”

Born in Smyrna on Dec. 6, 1927, Austin was the son of Chester Benningsfield and Levettie Adair Austin, and grew up with his sisters Grace, Frances and Katherine.

Austin attended school in Smyrna then went to Georgia Military College and served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947 before graduating in 1953 from Georgia State University with a bachelor of science.

In 1954, Austin’s best friend Al Burruss, whom he’d met in the third grade, acquired what is now the Tip Top Poultry company in Marietta, and soon after brought Austin on board to help run it.

Together Austin and Burruss developed and managed the business until Burruss’ death in 1986, when Burruss’ son, Robin Burruss, took over as president and worked with Austin, the CEO, until 1999, when Austin retired.

Austin’s only son and youngest child, David Austin, also retired from the company a few years ago as treasurer, but remains on the board. Brad Respess, Robin Burruss’ son-in-law, is president and CEO.

Burruss said his father and Austin first partnered in business as after-school janitors, and complemented each other because they enjoyed different aspects of work.

Read more from the Marietta Daily Journal here.